Maps.com is a private company that creates maps. Founded in 1991, the company’s first national maps were based on CIA public domain files. Now, GeoCart data usually provides the base map. Cartographers then utilize FreeHand, Illustrator, and Photoshop to tailor the maps to clients' needs.

The kinds of maps are extremely varied. In the photos, Mike Powers (above left) is working on a bicycle map; Hiromi Tabei (above right), textbook maps; Martha Bostwick (below left), a Chamber of Commerce map for Minnetonka, Minnesota; and Brad Janke (below right), a cruise ship map. Sue Irwin, Manager of Mapping Services, says, even with the abundance of maps available, people continue to need different ones. They want them to emphasize different information or be in different colors or styles.

How employees come to Maps.com is also varied. Mike earned BAs in Geography and Art Studio at UC Santa Barbara, and he took an internship at Maps.com through the Art Department. The internship was the foot in the door. Hiromi earned a BS in Geography in Eugene, Oregon, then did an unpaid internship for the University of Oregon, making an atlas. The professor for whom she did the atlas introduced her to the president of Maps.com. Martha attended the Center of Geographic Sciences, a cartography school in Nova Scotia, and sent an application. Brad earned a BA in Geography and a BS in Environmental Science at UC Santa Barbara, and applied. Sue was “all over the map” before hiring on. She waitressed for many years, traveled extensively, worked in a graphics shop, then did freelance book design, editing, and graphics. Robbie Wagner, Digital Content Assistant, was an EMT for nine years before starting at Maps.com. Strong in computer skills, he knew nothing about cartography. He says it was a personal connection that made the crucial difference. While education is an excellent strategy, there are many routes to cartography.

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